Alien Clearing

Arabella Phase 2

Joshap

The JOSHAP Project was conceived of as a wide ranging project to address three critical needs within the KBR, namely:

The more cost-effective clearing of alien plants;

The provision of a range of rewarding job and career opportunities for the many unemployed inhabitants of the KBR; and

The provision of eco-friendly housing of all classes.

Additional spin-off benefits could include a clear demonstration to the underprivileged sector of the population that the purpose of biosphere reserves is not exclusively the conservation of the natural environment, but includes sustainable developments of benefit to all sectors. This could then provide a clear message on the meaning of the MaB principles and draw in the support of the majority of the population that presently sees our efforts as purely for the benefit of the privileged minority.

How are these objectives to be achieved? By adapting and down-sizing known technologies to new materials and alternative applications. Alien plants can be cleared in the conventional manner, except that the species need to be kept separate for some applications. They are then processed to produce flakes for flake boards, strands for mixing with mud and compacting in walls, and fines for use in wood-cement bricks and splinters for making cob blocks (cob is a clay-fibre brick or block as old as ancient Egypt) and wood-cement boards. A limited amount of R&D is required to adapt the materials to the technologies and to establish that the properties of the building materials and the eventual houses meet standards. Two universities have agreed to provide this service once funds have been sourced. It is envisaged that the results be submitted to the Agément Board for assessment by them and the provision of Agrément Board certificates. One or more manuals and standard house and construction designs with detailed drawings will have to be prepared. A substantial amount of training of intended artisans, operators, supervisors, managers and entrepreneurs will also be needed. The implementation concept is based on creating a series of small enterprises each supporting and providing the materials for the next up the process line.

Much work remains to be done to source funds for and to get the project properly started. It may be necessary and practical to get aspects of the project off the ground in a piece meal manner, e.g. the making of wood-cement bricks and other building materials for more conventional usage before proceeding with the entire scheme. All and any interested parties can approach the KBRC for more information and possible collaboration in the project.

Klip River Cleanup

Steenbras coastal mountain trail

An initiative has been started to create an iconic new trail – a flagship – recognizable around the world for the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Whereas most trails are confined to either coastal or mountain regions in the Kogelberg the two concepts are so closely linked, that having a Trail along the coast over the mountains and back to the coast will be unique.

The first two days of the Trail will take the visitor on a walk, just above a wild rocky coastline, through gulleys, over bridges and along classic beaches with a constant view across False Bay of the world-famous Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsular down to the southern tip at Cape Point.

The views are staggering from every angle and the end of the first day would see the visitor tucked away in a bowl in the mountains about 150 m above the sea. The second day would again follow the coastline to the quaint seaside village of Rooiels, for a bed and breakfast stop.

The third day is a test for the mountain walkers rising to 300 m before dropping into the Palmiet Valley. A trundle along the edge of the river with his golden brown water tumbling over boulders alongside you takes you to the Oudebosch Chalet's, run by Cape Nature, hosting a cool swimming pool and eco-cottages.

The last day covers the existing Oudebosch / Harold Porter trail, which is probably one of the loveliest three to four hour walks anywhere in the world.